'People want to be heard'

April 09, 2006

J. Findley May is a man who has given a voice to people many residents feel do not deserve a platform to air their views. May, publisher of the magazine Sight 360, does not feel that way. Over the last two years, May has printed interviews with young men involved in gangs, mothers who have lost children to violence, and teenagers who have been victims of sexual exploitation. May, who was trained as a carpenter, says he doesn't have the answers to these problems, but starting a dialogue that doesn't exclude the voices of "grassroots" people might be an important first step. Staff writer Howard Dukes spoke to May recently. Why did you start the magazine? I was trying to do a church bulletin. And how I went from trying to print out some tracts to this first magazine right here (pulls out a 2004 Sight 360 with a photo of congressional candidate Joe Donnelly on the cover) I don't know. One guy was working for (the Donnelly campaign), and he said, 'Hey Findley, he's having a fundraiser down in Mishawaka, and it's $100 a plate.' 'Dude, I ain't paying no $100.' 'But I can get you in for free.' So I went in there, and I had some pictures, and (Donnelly) agreed to do an interview with me. There it is. How did you get involved in interviewing gang members? I sponsored a talent show down at the Century Center. And they (suspected gang members) busted it up. When I saw them fighting, the thing that was in my mind -- it was like the devil talking to me, saying, "I got them, and you can't touch them." That was a feeling I had. So, I didn't know what to do. I'm just saying that's just a feeling I had, that I don't like this. So an opportunity came up, and I asked somebody, Do you think you can get one of them guys to talk to me? It was some conversation that went back and forth, but nothing never happened. The first guy I interviewed, to this day I don't know if (someone) told him to come up, but he came up. Why do you think these young men trust you? Basically when they're talking to me, (the interview) comes out the way (it was said when) they talking to me. And people in the community, they can feel that. So after (the first story on a suspected gang member ran), I just started getting phone calls. I don't know these people, they just wanted to talk. They feel it's authentic, and they don't feel I'm tampering with what they're saying. And I'm not, but in the same breath I'm not condoning gang violence. Why do you do this? Nobody knows what to do, so if somebody got an answer or solution, they sure ain't putting it into motion. I don't know what to do, either, so my first stage is dialogue. You putting all these plans and programs, (but) first you need to listen to who you trying to help. I think that's the first step. So I'm just trying to listen. What do you think these young men and the community as a whole get out of talking to you? People want to be heard. People want to be noticed. They don't want to be marginalized and pushed over to the side. That is the appeal to them. I'm letting them talk. I'm letting them say what they want to say. Know of someone with a story to tell? Contact Howard Dukes at hdukes@sbtinfo.com or (574) 235-6369.